Malabu oil deal: Why I will not return to Nigeria – Adoke

A former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, who is fingered as alleged beneficiary in the $1.3 billion Malabu oil scam, has given reasons he may not return home until he gets some concessions from the Nigerian government.

He said, “I will definitely come back, if I have the assurance that they will not harm me, they will not humiliate me any further, they will respect the laws of the land.”

Recall that the former Attorney-General had noted that he acted on the instructions of former President, Goodluck Jonathan as it concerns the Malabu oil deal.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said Adoke, who was AGF from 2010-2015, was involved in the alleged fraud that marred the transfer of OPL 245 licence from Malabu Oil and Gas Limited to Royal Dutch Shell and Italy’s ENI.

He and eleven others, including former Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete, Shell and ENI officials were also accused by Italian prosecutors of wrongdoings when the deal was struck in 2011.

The EFCC accused Adoke of being on the run, and the anti-graft office earlier this month sought a court order to compel him to appear for trial.

But Adoke said he would remain in The Netherlands, where he said he has been studying since 2015, unless there are competent assurances from the Nigerian authorities that he won’t be humiliated.

He told The Cable, “If I am arrested and granted bail, I hope they will obey the court and not treat me like they have been treating others, they will not scandalise me, and there will be no mob trial, media circus, certainly I will return.”

He, however, expressed doubts that the prevailing political atmosphere in the country could afford him such privileges after his return.

He added, “But I will tell you something: that is not the environment that exists in Nigeria today. That is where my fear lies.

“Also, I cannot underestimate the extent to which those after me can go considering the enormous power and influence they have in the government of today.”